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Missouri police chief, 51, who lost his job after punching father who left his baby to drown in a pond pleads guilty to assault

Greg Hallgrimson, 51, pleaded guilty to assault charges on Wednesday for punching a handcuffed father who attempted to drown his infant daughter

Greg Hallgrimson, 51, pleaded guilty to assault charges on Wednesday for punching a handcuffed father who attempted to drown his infant daughter 

A former suburban Kansas City police chief who helped rescue a baby from an icy pond and later assaulted the man who confessed to trying to kill the infant has pleaded guilty in the case.

The officer's case became a rallying cry for people in the town of Greenwood, Missouri, who threw their support behind the chief - who eventually resigned. They said the father deserved what the chief dished out to him after trying to drown his own daughter.

Still, the now-former chief, Greg Hallgrimson, 51, pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday, according to court documents. 

He was indicted in 2019 on a single count of violating the civil rights of Jonathon Zicarelli, 31, when he attacked him while in custody for attempting to drown his infant child. 

Robin Fowler, the former chief's defense attorney, told The Kansas City Star his plea marks the next step in being able to resolve the case and 'move forward with his life.' 

'He believes that the plea terms are fair, and hopes they will be given consideration by the Court,' Fowler said in a statement. 

Prosecutors have said Hallgrimson threw a handcuffed Zicarelli to the ground, punched him in the face, and told Zicarelli, 'You deserve to die,' after returning from rescuing Zicarelli's infant from a frozen pond where he left her.   

Jonathon Zicarelli, 31, walked into the Greenwood Police Department in 2018 and confessed to officers that he had just left his infant daughter in a nearby frozen pond in an attempt to kill her

Jonathon Zicarelli, 31, walked into the Greenwood Police Department in 2018 and confessed to officers that he had just left his infant daughter in a nearby frozen pond in an attempt to kill her

Zicarelli is currently being held in Jackson County jail as he awaits sentencing on felony charges of domestic assault and child abuse

Zicarelli is currently being held in Jackson County jail as he awaits sentencing on felony charges of domestic assault and child abuse

Zicarelli had walked into the Greenwood Police Department in December 2018 and said he had tried to drown his 6-month-old daughter in a nearby frozen pond, police said. 

Hallgrimson and another officer rushed to the pond and found the unconscious infant floating face up and her lungs filled with water. 

As police pulled the baby girl from the pond they noted she had mud in her eyes, grass and water in her mouth, and was barely moving. It has been estimated that she was in the water for nearly 10 minutes. 

The two officers worked to warm and revive the baby removing the child's wet clothes and wrapping her in the chief's shirt until paramedics arrived and rushed her to a hospital. 

She was treated for severe hypothermia but survived the traumatic event. 

Hallgrimson resigned from his position in 2019 after being put on administrative leave

Hallgrimson resigned from his position in 2019 after being put on administrative leave

Greenwood residents supported their former police chief throughout the investigation

Greenwood residents supported their former police chief throughout the investigation

Zicarelli told investigators he had been planning to kill his daughter for over 24 hours after having 'bad thoughts.' 

The disturbed father claimed he wanted to make things easier for his wife as stress mounted with the holidays and the pressure to provide for his family, according to court records. 

Probable cause documents state Zicarelli appeared 'emotionally removed' when he informed officers of his murderous actions. 

Hallgrimson was put on administrative leave shortly after being accused of assaulting Zicarelli, which prosecutors say was captured on video. 

When the investigation into Hallgrimson began in 2019, 'We Stand With Chief Hallgrimson' signs began popping up around town as the local residents showed support for their beloved chief. He resigned later that year. 

Zicarelli, meanwhile, remains in Jackson County jail on pending felony charges of domestic assault and child abuse. 

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